On Sunday 15 November, HBO Max released a clip from the Harry Potter series: the start-of-term feast in the Great Hall at Hogwarts. The series is not a remake of the films but a new adaptation of the novels, with one season per book, and its first season covers Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, published in 1997 and already made into a film in 2001. It arrives on HBO Max in December 2026 and is included in the platform subscription, with no separate charge.

Harry Potter series: HBO Max shows the Hogwarts feast, out in December

The clip lasts about a minute and a half, and it includes a conversation between Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall that appears in neither the book nor the film.

Harry Potter: the start-of-term feast and an added scene

The scene takes place just after the Sorting Ceremony, once the Sorting Hat has sent each first-year pupil to their house. Harry (Dominic McLaughlin) asks whether Dumbledore is a bit mad, and Ron (Alastair Stout) replies that he is completely mad. Hermione (Arabella Stanton) is also in the scene. Dumbledore, played by John Lithgow, then snaps his fingers and the feast appears on the tables.

Dumbledore then turns to Professor McGonagall (Janet McTeer) and asks her if she is pleased that Harry is in Gryffindor. She replies that he is the spitting image of his father, James Potter. Dumbledore reminds her that appearances can be deceptive and that Harry's nature is his own. This exchange is a scene added by the series, told outside Harry's point of view.

This clip follows the series' first trailer, released on 2 September 2026. Francesca Gardiner is the showrunner and writes the scripts, and Mark Mylod directs several episodes. Paapa Essiedu plays Severus Snape, Nick Frost plays Hagrid, and Bel Powley and Daniel Rigby are Petunia and Vernon Dursley. Season 1 has eight episodes, and season 2 will adapt Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

The Sorting Ceremony that comes before this feast has its own LEGO set in 2026, with Professor McGonagall among the minifigures.

LEGO 2026: Hogwarts Castle: Sorting Hat Ceremony (76460)

This 124-piece set contains four minifigures: Professor McGonagall, Harry, Hermione and Draco, each with a wand. The Sorting Hat sits on each pupil's head, and a spinning wheel picks their house. A table laid with food, a points counter and a cat-shaped Patronus complete the build, which is part of the 25th anniversary sets and connects to the other Hogwarts Castle modules.

The 2026 LEGO Harry Potter range includes other sets, from the small Dobby the Free Elf to the Ministry of Magic Collectors' Edition.

Funko POP 2026: James Potter and the Sorting Hat

James Potter, the father McGonagall compares Harry to, has his own POP #223 in a series based on the Marauder's Map. The figure is about 4.2 in (10.7 cm) tall and stands on the map, in a black Hogwarts robe and round glasses. It is released on 27 November 2026.

The Sorting Hat #203 is a sound POP: resting on a pile of books, it says the names of the four houses and lines from its song. It is about 3.1 in (8 cm) tall and runs on two AAA batteries, included.

The other three Marauders, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew, are released on the same date, 27 November, alongside the year's other Harry Potter POPs, from Severus Snape to Fawkes.

Harry Potter essentials

Figures, LEGO sets and Loungefly bags: the most popular Harry Potter products, across all characters. Harry himself also has his own 2026 collecting guide.